The countdown to Christmas Day is well and truly on and so is the race to Christmas number one. Claiming the top spot of the charts at Christmas is an iconic achievement that has been held by artists such as Queen, The Beatles, and Whitney Houston.
Here are some of the favourites to top the charts this Christmas.
LadBaby – ‘Don’t Stop Me Eatin’”
YouTube star LadBaby is looking to make history, aiming for a hat-trick of consecutive festive number one hits. The comedian, Mark Hoyle, has dominated the top spot for the past two years with sausage-roll themed charity singles. Mark, his wife Roxanne, and their children have released ‘Don’t Stop Me Eatin’’, their take on Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’, raising money for the food bank charity The Trussell Trust. The song, with its sausage roll puns and references to lockdown, is the bookies favourite to top the charts this Christmas. If successful, LadBaby will join The Beatles and The Spice Girls with three UK Christmas number one singles. Last year saw LadBaby beat Stormzy and Wham! to the top spot with his parody cover of I Love Sausage Rolls.
Mariah Carey – ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’
Mariah Carey has held the top spot for the past two weeks with her 1994 festive classic, ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’. Twenty-six years after it was released, the Christmas track finally reached number one of the UK charts for the first time. Will Mariah make it three weeks at the top and score the Christmas’ number one?
Justin Bieber ft. The Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir – ‘Hol’y
Five years ago, Justin Bieber and The Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir were in close competition for the 2015 Christmas number one. Justin asked his fans to support the NHS choir’s track which went on to top the charts for Christmas that year. Now, Justin and the choir have joined forces, recording a new version of his hit single ‘Holy’. The track was recorded at Abbey Road studios and raises funds for NHS Charities Together and the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust Charity.
Liam Gallagher- All You’re Dreaming Of
Liam Gallagher’s festive track, ‘All You’re Dreaming Of’, has been described by the Oasis star as “perfect for this time of year, considering the year we’ve all had.” The proceeds of the track go to the charity Action For Children who support vulnerable children and young people across the UK. When asked by a fan on Twitter if he thought he would get to Christmas number one, Liam responded with, “you gotta be in it to win it.” Could his first ever Christmas single win it this year?
Gemma Collins and Darren Day – ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’
“I’m claustrophobic Darren!”- This duo met in the Celebrity Big Brother house and are looking to spread some much-needed festive cheer whilst making a bid for the top spot of the charts. The GC and Darren have put their spin on the classic song ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ to raise funds for the charity Rethink Mental Illness.
The artists in the running will have until just before midnight on Christmas Eve for their record sales and streams to count, with the official 2020 Christmas number one to be announced on BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart show on Christmas Day.
Charlotte Roszko
Featured image courtesy of Edward Cisneros via Unsplash. This image has in no way been altered. Image license available here.